1 E xcept the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

إنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ اللهُ هُوَ بانِي البَيتِ، فَكُلُّ تَعَبِ البَنّائِينَ بِلا فائِدَةٍ! وَإنْ لَمِ يَكُنِ اللهُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَحْرُسُ المَدِينَةَ، فَمُراقَبَةُ الحُرّاسِ بِلا فائِدَةٍ!

2 I t is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of toil—for He gives to His beloved in sleep.

وَلَيَسَتِ الفائِدَةُ فِي الخُرُوجِ باكِراً إلَى العَمَلِ، أو فِي السَّهَرِ مِنْ أجلِ لُقْمَةِ العَيْشِ. فَاللهُ يَعطِي أحِبّاءَهُ راحَةً.

3 B ehold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

الأبناءُ هِبَةٌ مِنَ اللهِ ، مُكافَأةٌ تَأْتِي مِنْ أحشاءِ الأُمِّ.

4 A s arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

كَسِهامٍ بِيَدَي مُحارِبٍ هُمُ الأولادُ الَّذِينَ يُرزَقُ المَرءُ بِهِمْ فِي شَبابِهِ.

5 H appy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries at the gate.

هَنِيئاً لِلمُحارِبِ الَّذِي مَلأ جُعبَتَهُ مِنهُمْ! لَدَى مُواجَهَةِ أعدائِهِمْ عِندَ بابِ المَدِينَةِ لَنْ يُخْزَوا.